By Ubong Emmanuel
The Uyo Township Stadium came alive in a blaze of colour, sound, and spectacle as the 2025 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, aptly themed “Nurturing Talents, Promoting Tourism”, kicked off in grand style. It was more than an opening ceremony; it was a bold reaffirmation of Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to making sports a central pillar of youth development, empowerment, and tourism in the state.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Governor Eno told a packed crowd of athletes, coaches, officials, and dignitaries that sports must be embraced not just as recreation but as a global industry with vast opportunities.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0’); });
“Sports today is a multi-billion-dollar global industry, and we must discover new talents, grow and expose them to the right opportunities and platforms,” he declared, as the Festival Torch of Unity lit up the stadium to rousing applause.
The atmosphere was electric. Contingents from all 31 Local Government Areas marched past in dazzling displays of energy and pride, while drummers, dancers, and singers thrilled the crowd with performances that showcased the state’s rich culture.
With more than 3,000 athletes competing across 18 sporting events in Uyo, Eket, Ediene Abak, and Aka Community Secondary School, the festival is more than just games—it is an assembly of dreams. For many young athletes, this is their first taste of competitive sport, their first chance to be seen, and perhaps the beginning of journeys that could take them from dusty playgrounds to global arenas.
Governor Eno captured that spirit when he reminded the audience that greatness often springs from humble beginnings. He cited Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong of Etinan descent, WBO Heavyweight Champion Moses Itauma, and NBA coach Ime Udoka, proud Akwa Ibom sons whose names now ring across the world of football, boxing, and basketball.
“There are many more of these great sports stars waiting to be discovered,” the governor affirmed. “This Sports Festival is aimed at identifying and grooming such talents who would one day fly the flag of our state and bring us laurels.”
Beyond the festivities, Ibom 2025 marks the unfolding of a deliberate policy shift. For the first time in the state’s history, Akwa Ibom now has a stand-alone Ministry of Sports, headed by Elder Paul Bassey, a respected journalist and sports administrator.
The move, Governor Eno explained, was to ensure that sports development no longer plays second fiddle but is given the structure, funding, and leadership it deserves. “We are deploying every aspect of our popular culture—from music and sports to culinary arts and heritage—to position Akwa Ibom as a destination of choice for sports and tourism,” he said.
Already, his administration has rolled out ambitious projects, which include the Ibom Sports Academy in Eket, designed to nurture talent from the grassroots; State-of-the-art training and competition equipment, ensuring athletes can compete at modern standards, and World-class facilities at the ARISE Resort in Uyo, opening this December, complete with golf courses and arenas for both indoor and outdoor games.
These investments, the governor stressed, will “rewrite Akwa Ibom’s story in national and international competitions” while creating jobs and boosting the local economy.
In linking sports to tourism, Governor Eno is tapping into a powerful synergy. Global events like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup show how sports can transform cities into destinations. Akwa Ibom, with its natural beauty, hospitality, and growing infrastructure, is positioning itself to harness this potential.
The Sports Festival, with its blend of competition, culture, and celebration, is already a draw for visitors. Hotels are filling up, restaurants are buzzing, and local businesses are cashing in on the influx of athletes and fans. For the governor, this is just the beginning of a sustainable strategy where sports and tourism feed into each other, creating a cycle of opportunity and growth.
Elder Paul Bassey, Commissioner for Sports and Chairman of the Ministerial Organising Committee, praised the governor’s foresight, describing Ibom 2025 as “a strategic platform to scout, nurture, and showcase talents for global opportunities.”
Athletes, too, expressed their excitement. “This is the biggest stage I’ve ever competed on,” said 16-year-old sprinter Iniobong Akpan from Abak LGA. “I want to give my best and maybe one day represent Nigeria.”
Her words echoed the governor’s call to participants to “showcase your talents, embrace the spirit of sportsmanship, build friendships, and win laurels as a foundation for future glory.”
When Governor Umo Eno campaigned for office, he promised to invest in sports development, not just as a pastime but as a serious driver of youth empowerment. With the launch of the 2025 Sports Festival, he has turned that promise into action.
More importantly, he has shifted the narrative. In Akwa Ibom, sports is no longer a sideshow but a front-row player in the state’s socio-economic agenda. It is about discovering the next Troost-Ekong, Itauma, or Udoka. It is about giving young people alternatives to crime and despair. It is about jobs, tourism, and pride of place.
As the competitions unfold over the coming week, with medals to be won and records to be broken, the true victory is already evident: a renewed commitment to building a state where talent is nurtured, dreams are possible, and sports is a ladder to greatness.
In the words of Governor Eno: “Sports is the future, and the future begins here in Akwa Ibom.”
•Emmanuel writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
The post Eno charts new path for sports and tourism appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
